Washington (AP) - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is raising his national political profile as a government cost-cutter, engaged in a pattern of abuse when he was U.S. attorney by billing taxpayers to stay at luxury hotels, the Justice Department's inspector general said .

The inspector general found that the Republican governor, who recently killed the construction of a new rail line to New York under the Hudson River, did not comply with federal travel regulations or provide acceptable justification for lodging costs that exceeded the government rate.

Christie was one of five U.S. attorneys singled out for criticism in the inspector general's review of U.S. attorney travel that exceeded the government lodging rate. Christie was the chief federal prosecutor for New Jersey from 2002 until Dec. 1, 2008, when he resigned to run for governor. He became governor last January.

While the amount of money involved in the review of Christie's travel vouchers is small, $2,176, the IG's report comes at a time when Christie's political star is rising as he focuses on reducing the cost of government.

The inspector general's report concluded that there were other examples of questionable travel by several other U.S. attorneys, but that those instances "were not part of a pattern of abuse like those described" in the section of the report on the five U.S. attorneys.

-snip-

Christie is the first Republican elected New Jersey governor in a dozen years. He was a sought-after guest on the GOP campaign trail during the midterm elections.

Christie has left the door open for a 2016 presidential run. On Sunday, he said on NBC's "Meet the Press" that he was "going to need a job" after 2013. He added: "So maybe it will be that. Who knows?"

Who the Hell is Holder or his Justice dept to criticize anyone? The corrupt 'Justice' Department needs Congressional investigation!

Two or more years after the fact when these receipts were submitted & accepted by the controlling authorities we now have Obama/Holder team trying to smear the Gov. of NJ. This is such petty politics, such Democrat hate inspired BS as to almost be funny.

Gov. Christie no longer works for the Federal Gov't, the Justice Dept & their IGs & Auditors failed to comment on, refuse to accept or in any other way try & recoup what are now being called inappropriate expense vouchering during his employment or at his cashiering out. Another example of some Democrat haters and some 20/20 hindsight being used to try & smear a political rival.

It is pretty obvious Chicago thug politics and payback for Christie cancelling the tunnel project in NJ. You can also expect to see a ton more of this as Obama tries to secure his re-election. Prospective candidate after prosepective candidate will be under investigation from the Justass Department.

I take heart in the fact that Mr. Holder is going to need a cushion for the seat he will be occupying in front of Congress. I can’t wait to see his face when the reality sets in that he is the one under investigation.

With Moochelle and hubby spending billions on travel, Holder picks on Christi for this??? The Judicial Committee under Lamar Smith really needs to call him on the carpet for his partisan witch hunts and dereliction of duty based on his racism.

Of course, this is so blatant that no one will be fooled and Christi will beat the snot out of that dipwad, Holder, in the arena of public opinion.

Unfortunate for Christie, to be such a flawed individual who comes after a paragon of virtue like Corzine. Thank heaven we have the sterling Obama/Holder Justice Dept. to ferret out any and all corruption in the public interest.

These allegations go back almost eight years, and the most recent are two years old. If Christie was over-compensated for travel expenses, why did it take so long for this to be dealt with? It should have been dealt with immediately by whoever processed the paperwork. Even then, it’s small potatoes, especially compared to Obama’s extravagent travel expenses. This smells like a political hit job.

Christie was the chief federal prosecutor for New Jersey from 2002 until Dec. 1, 2008...While the amount of money involved in the review of Christie's travel vouchers is small, $2,176, the IG's report comes at a time when Christie's political star is rising

2002 - 2008 = 6 years $2,176/6 = $362.67/yr

LOL! I'm so glad to know that the Obama/Holder Justice Department has focused their laser beam-like attention on such important matters!

This article reminds me of a pet peeve I have had for a long time when it comes to sourcing articles.

The article covered here is an AP article running on CNS’s website. Just like any other site that runs AP articles (including Fox) it would seem to me to be imperative that the sourcing by posters should read “AP Via CNS.com” or the more complete “Associated Press Via CNS.com”

Personally I wish that sites like Fox and CNS wouldn’t run any articles put out by AP, certainly none that don’t pass a reasonable objectivity smell test. This one does not.

The article mentions what seems to be a reasonably paltry amount covering a six year period. The article doesn’t breakdown what apparent threshold was violated. The article doesn’t answer the question of why this supposed newsworthy subject is coming out at a minimum of two years after the fact. The article does not list the other four violators and/or their transgressions. And I’m sure I could list more if necessary.

The lack of completeness leaves one with only one conclusion - this is a basic leftist hit piece.

31
posted on 11/09/2010 10:27:32 AM PST
by torchthemummy
("About everything we do around here is government intrusion in people's lives." Ray LaHood)

“Chris Christie, who is raising his national political profile as a government cost-cutter, engaged in a pattern of abuse when he was U.S. attorney by billing taxpayers to stay at luxury hotels, the Justice Department’s inspector general said .”

I’ll bet he didn’t spend $200,000,000 a day.

32
posted on 11/09/2010 10:36:44 AM PST
by RoadTest
(Religion is a substitute for the relationship God wants with you.)

You KNOW your doing something RIGHT when this corrupt gang of thugs and miscreants comes after you under the color of "law" (the POS Holder is going after Sheriff Arpaio, and other conservative PATRIOTS, while PROTECTING total SCUMBAGS like the New Black Panthers).

Let's get 'er going Congressman Issa - get these bastards under a blistering, wide-ranging anal-probe-of-an-investigation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

I traveled often while a federal service employee. When my voucher showed receipts for expenses greater than the maximum allowable in accordance with the federal Joint Travel Regulation (JTR), I was reimbursed only the maximum amount allowed.

If a payment clerk payed out more than what was allowed in the JTR to Attorney C, he/she was the one who made an error.

Meanwhile, Gerald Walpin, fired without notice by NObama for discovering fraud & waste in the Sacramento school run by kevin johnson- a buddy of Moooochelle’s brother, Craig Robinson, still cannot get a case before the courts over his firing.

NObama himself sponsored the bill pertaining to giving adequate notice to any Inspector General who was in trouble. The he dismissed Walpin without any notice.

Ofcourse it is. In some areas/cities no hotel rates are as low as the per diem rate allowed by government. I’m sure in those cases when paying the higher rate is necessary one only needs to justify the higher rate. The fact that he was reimbursed negates these charges. The time to challenge an expense account submission is when submitted, not years later.

If I were Christie Id mail the feds and check for $2,100 and enclose a note to stick it where the sun doesnt shine.

NO, NO, NO, please God NO!

Admitting any error here in any way loses this fight. Gingrich admitted to a clerical error and lost. Delay is still fighting out from under the mud slinging. Palin managed to side step it. Give them any reason to continue pointing this out as an error on Christie's part and even more mud will fly.

Whatever reason the bureaucracy found to ok the expense back then is still valid today. Don't look back.

This stuff is really small potatoes. It's not like you can always find a Motel 6 room available when expected to report to your boss in DC.

This is a great big joke in comparison to Barack and Michelle's Excellent Adventure in India.

42
posted on 11/09/2010 4:30:53 PM PST
by slowhandluke
(It's hard to be cynical enough in this age.)

"In some areas/cities no hotel rates are as low as the per diem rate allowed by government. Im sure in those cases when paying the higher rate is necessary one only needs to justify the higher rate. The fact that he was reimbursed negates these charges. The time to challenge an expense account submission is when submitted, not years later."

That's true, and I'd forgotten that. I work for the City of Seattle, and that is exactly the policy. In fact, I think they maintain a list of cities where the standard per diem can be exceeded.

Since the 2012 campaign started last week (that’s how I view it- right after the mid-terms), this comes off as ever more political than if it had been done a year ago. Chis Christie is obviously a man to watch and he has them scared. I hope he deals with this appropriately.

46
posted on 11/11/2010 4:19:56 AM PST
by PghBaldy
(Like the Ft Hood Killer, James Earl Ray was just stressed when he killed MLK Jr.)

And, of course, Christie didn’t try to hide anything. He submitted honest reimbursement reports which were approved. If they weren’t happy with his expenses, they should have denied some of them or talked to him at the time.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.